Feeding mechanism



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lI5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1945 De.7,194s. A, K WATT ET AL 2,455,630

FEEDING MECHANISM Filed sept. 14. 1945 s sheets-sheet s Fig 21 *VFW ,a

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through which cartridges |5 secured together in f conventional manner by belt links i6 pass into the v feeding mechanism. The left side of feed box 8 as viewed in Fig. 3 is provided with a discharge slot l1 through which the links I6 are discharged.

A pair of spaced guide membersIi-l and are provided extending across the top vof feed box 8 ony A' f which a feed slide 2| is mounted for reciprocal movement as is more fully described in the aforementioned patents. A conventional paWl 1|) (Fig. 3) is provided on the-underside o'f feed slidef2| to engage successive links of the belt of cartridges to advance such belt into the feed boxl 8 with each reciprocation of feed slide 2|.

A feed slide return lever 22 is pivotally mounted in the forward end of feed box8 and engages feed slide 2| by means of a pin25 cooperating .in a slot 25a.. A spring pressed'plunger 23 (Fig. 3)y imparts a bias to feed slide return-lever -22l which in turn biases the feed slide 2| to its 'extreme right hand position as viewed in Fig. 3.

Feeding movement is imparted to feed slidev 2| after the ring of each cartridge by a conventional linkage which is actuated by the counter recoil movement of the barrel extension i5. For the purposes of this invention, it is not necessary to describe all portions of this linkage completely but it will be, sufficient to point out that the feed slide 2| is immediately operated by a feed slide lever 5|) (Fig. 3). Feed slide lever 50 is pivotally mounted in the feed box 8 on a pin 5| and has one end pivotally secured to the feed slide 2| by a pin and slot -connection 24 and-its other end pivotally secured to the end of one arm 26a of a right angle feed crank 26 through apin and slot connection' 1|. The feed crank 26 is pivotally mounted at its vertex bymeans of a depending vertical pin 21 whichvis supportedfor movement about a horizontal axis in a suitable bearing (not shown) provided in the feed box 8. The other arm 26D of feed crankl 26 is operated `by a feed lever28 mounted in casing 8 and pivoted forwardly during counter-recoill of barrel extension 5 by a stud 28 thereon. Feed lever 28 engages arm 23h at 30 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and thereby transmits motion to feed crank 26.

The structure thus far described has been substantially similar to that set forth in the aforementioned patents. In accordancewith this 1invention a manual operating member or loading lever 3| is provided,v having an integral plate-like body portion 32 which is mounted coaxially and in surrounding relationship with respect to pin 21 of feed crank 26.` Loading lever3| has an lintegrally formed handle portion 33 which projects out of the right hand side of feed'boxr 8 as viewed in Fig. 3 through a suitable slot 34.--The platelike body portion 32 of loadingflever 3| underlies feed crank 26. A pawl-like projection 36 (Fig. 6) is provided on body portion 3,2 in position to engage a depending'stud 31 in feed crank 26`s'o that rotation of loading lever 3| by pulling handl"33 rearwardly will in turn imparta rotational movement to feed crank 26 to aotuate feed slide 2| in a direction to-feed a roundinto the gun;

Preferably an extension spring 39 is mounted between a depending stud I52 on the bottom of body portion 32 of loading lever 3| and the wall of feed box 8 and operates to return loading lever 3| to its inoperative position. The remainder of the feed mechanism is returned to its ready-tofeed position by the spring biased feed slide return'lever 22'.l Thus a manually operated actuating lever for the Vfeeding mechanism of a machine A gun of the type disclosed in the aforementioned :patents is provided without substantial modification of the prior art structure.

In accordance with this invention an interlock 40 isprovided to prevent manual operation of loading'lever 3| except when the lock frame ll is "in its loading' position heretofore described wherein the carrier dog engages in notch 6a in the lock frame 6. The interlock 40 comprises a platel or stop portion 42 which is threadably secured to a depending plunger portion 4|. The plunger portion 4| is slidably-.mounted in a hollow vertical housing l43 which is formed in the rear wall 'I2 of the feed box 8. A spring 44 is disposed between-plunger portion 4| and the interior wall of Ahousing 43 and operates between an internal shoulder 43a of housing 43 and an enlarged head portion 45 on. plunger portion 4|, thusnormally biasing interlock 40 to a down position. In such down position, the plate portion 42 of interlock 461s disposed as shown in Fig. 3, immediately in the path of a projection 38 integrally formed on loading lever 3|, thus preventingv manual operation of the loading lever.y Also, in such down position, the end 53 of the interlock plunger4| extends into the path of a portion of thecarrier dog 1.

The vertical position of the plate 42 of interlock y40 is thus determined by the pivotal position of .the carrier' dog 1 and this position is in turn determined by the position of the lock frame 6. The carrierdog thusfunctionsas an actuator for the interlock 40. As is more fully described in the vaforementioned patents, carrier dog 1 is pivotally mounted on a carrier 46 which is in turn pivotally mounted in feed* box 8 for movement about aihorizontal axis. In the battery position of'lock frame 6 as illustrated in Fig.v 1, carrier dog 1 projects downwardly into the path of recoil movement of the lock frame under the force imparted by a spring pressed plunger 41 which seats in a hole 48 in carrier 46. As the lock frame 6 moves rearwardly upon recoil, the carrier dog 1 is rotated upwardly about its mounting pin and upon thefcounter-recoil of -frame 6 is en gaged therewith by means of notch 62. This upward movement in turn is imparted to the interlock 4|). Theplater42 of interlock 40 isthus raised vertically to clear the projection 38 of loading lever 3|. Hence, loading lever 3| may be vmanuallyoperated to feed a cartridge into the gun. v ,l

ACarrier Vdog]` is released from the notch 6a in lock frame 6, permitting the rlock frame to drive forward, by mechanism responsive to feeding movement of the feeding mechanism. However, the mechanism by which this is accomplished is completely described in the aforementioned `patents and forms no part of this invention.

IIt is therefore apparent that improvements in accordance with-this invention providea simple yet effective'rrnanual operating lever for the feed mechanism of'a machine gun and in addition prevents actuation of such manual lever unless the gun mechanism is in proper condition to have a cartridge loaded therein.

We claim:

l. In a machine gun having a recoiling member and a feed slide mountedl on the gun for reciprocable movement, the improvement comprising, in combination, a crank member pivotally mounted in the gun and arranged to transmit movement of the vrecoling member to the feed slide, an operating member pivotally mounted adjacent to and coaxial with said crank member, a handle portion on said operating member projecting out ofthe gun, and a projection on said operating member directly ent gageable with said crank member whereby manual operation of said handle portion rotates said crank member in a cartridge feeding direction.

2. In a machine gun having a recoiling member and a feed slide mounted on the gun for reciprocating movement, the improvement comprising, in combination, an operating member pivotally mounted on the gun, a handle portion on said operating member projecting out of the gun, means interconnecting said operating member with said feed slide whereby pivoting of said handle portion actuates said feed slide, a Astop member normally disposed in the path of movement of said operating member to prevent movement thereof, and means responsive to the position of said recoiling member for moving said stop member out of the path of said operating member.

3. In a machine gun having a recoiling member and a feed slide mounted on the gun for reciprocable movement, the improvement kcomprising, in combination, a crank member pivotally mounted on the gun and arranged to reciprocate the feed slide, an operating member coaxially pivotally mounted relative to said crank member, a handle portion on said operating member projecting out of the gun, a projection on said operating member engageable with said crank member to rotate said crank member in a cartridge feeding direction by manual operation of said handle portion, whereby pivoting of said handle portion actuates said feed slide, a stop member normally disposed in the path of movement of said operating member to prevent movement thereof, and means responsive to the position of said recoiling member for moving said stop member out of the path of said operating member.

4. In a machine gun having a recoiling member and a feed slide mounted on the gun for reciprocating movement, the improvement comprising, in combination, an operating member pivotally mounted on the gun, a handle portion on said operating member projecting out of the gun, means interconnecting said operating member with said feed slide whereby pivoting of said handle portion actuates said feed slide, a stop member movably mounted on the gun adjacent said operating member, resilient means biasing said stop member into the path of movement of said operating member to prevent movement thereof, and an actuator'pivotally mounted on the gun and arranged to be moved by the recoiling member, said actuator being connected to said stop member and constructed and arranged to move said stop member out of the path of said operating member in response to the position of the recoiling member.

5. In a machine gun having a recoiling member, a sear pivotable into engagement therewith to secure the recoiling member in a recoiled position, and a feed slide mounted on the gun for reciprocating movement, the improvement comprising, in combination, an operating member pivotally mounted on the gun, a handle portion on said operating member projecting out of the gun, means interconnecting said operating member with said feed slide whereby pivoting of said handle portion actuates said feed slide, a spring pressed plunger movably mounted in the gun, said plunger being engageable with and movable by said sear, a stop member secured to said plunger and arranged to lie in the path of movement of said operating member when the sear is engaged with the recoiling member and to be moved out of the path of movement of said operating member when said sear moves out of engagement with the recoiling member.

ANDREW K. WATT. ALBERT B. HAYS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,471,348 Paulus Oct. 23, 1923 2,322,490 Webb June 22, 1943 2,338,270 Swartz Jan. 4, 1944 

